England fast bowler James Anderson admits reverse swing will play a key role in the third Test against India at Eden Gardens.

While everyone was talking about the role the spinners will play in the Test, it was Anderson who starred with the ball on day one as he picked up three wickets to leave the hosts struggling at 273 for seven.

The pacer, who dismissed Sachin Tendulkar, Virat Kohli and Ravichandran Ashwin, let the ball do the talking as he pulled off a few tricks he learned from India fast bowler Zaheer Khan.

"It might have been the last tour here, when Zaheer did it a lot, and that's when I started practising it," he said.

"It's proved to be a good skill - because when batsmen are good enough to see which is the shiny side and know which way it's going, it's a lot easier for them.

"So when you hide it, obviously it makes it more difficult.

"Once we got it reversing, it makes my job a lot easier to try to attack and get wickets out here, so I just enjoyed it as much as I could.

"We've had hints of it reversing in the last two games, but nothing like it did today.

"On the pitches we get out here, reverse is crucial for seam bowlers - because it keeps you in the game.

"This pitch is perfect for it, very abrasive."

It was also the eighth time that Anderson has dismissed the legendary Tendulkar, but he played down talk that the batsman is his "bunny".

"I wouldn't say that," he said.

"It was a crucial wicket for us, and I was delighted to get him out because it looked like he was set.

"He looked a bit scratchy early on but I was really pleased to get him out when I did.

"He's such a class player that, when he gets in like that, he can go on and get a big hundred."

India opener Gautam Gambhir hopes Zaheer and Ishant Sharma can reverse the home team's fortunes once they get ball in hand.

"It reversed big, so if we can put 350 on the board it's going to be a good contest," he said.

"Zaheer Khan is a master of reverse-swing, so if he gets going it will be very difficult for England."